Seat on South Brunswick school board left undecided

 

By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Two of the three South Brunswick Board of Education (BOE) seats were filled by incumbents on Election Day, though the occupancy of the third term up for election has yet to be decided.

Incumbents Harry Delgado and Azra Baig will remain on the school board, receiving 7,945 and 6,616 votes, respectively.

Current board Vice President Daniel Boyle decided to not seek reelection. Therefore, the third seat would have gone to Lisa Rodgers, who received 7,118 votes, but she decided to withdraw her name from the ballot less than two weeks before the election, citing personal reasons.

Anilkumar Patel followed with 5,557 votes, and then Laszlo Nyitrai, Jr. with 4,256 votes.

“Sure, I was disappointed with the election results, but I wish the winning candidates the best. Everyone that ran for South Brunswick BOE this year is well-qualified and truly care about the district,” Nyitrai said.

According to Superintendent of Schools Gary McCartney, “until the successfully-elected candidate serves formal notice to the BOE of not wanting to be seated, the South Brunswick BOE must act as though the election results are clear as to the top three candidates. The ballot results will be certified by the county based upon the tally of votes cast and the candidates that received them.”

Afterward, school board members could choose the next qualifying candidate, who would be Patel, or instead advertise, interview and select a new candidate.

In either instance, the individual selected would be eligible to serve for one year with the unfulfilled term posted on the next ballot as a two-year term, McCartney said.
“The board will need to discuss this issue and make a determination based upon receipt of a withdrawal letter. Absent such letter, the three top voters endorsed candidates will be seated,” he said.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].